Connector that may indicate the edition of a connecting interface of a computer

ABSTRACT

A connector that may indicate an edition of a connecting interface of a computer, includes a host controller, and an indicator electrically connected to the host controller. The host controller includes a judging device used to judge a transmitting velocity between the host of the computer and the peripheral device. Thus, the indicator may be adapted to indicate the edition of the connecting interface according to the transmitting velocity between the host of the computer and the peripheral device.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to a connector that may indicate the edition of a connecting interface of a computer, wherein the host controller includes a judging device that may judge the transmitting velocity between the host of the computer and the peripheral device. Thus, the indicator may be adapted to indicate the edition of the connecting interface according to the transmitting velocity between the host of the computer and the peripheral device.

[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0004] A connecting interface is mounted between the main board (or the host) of a computer and a peripheral device. The connecting interface usually includes connectors (such as the PS/2 connector that may be connected to the mouse, the USB connector or the like) that may be connected to peripheral devices of different types, a micro-controller that may be used to control delivery of data and commands, and buses mounted between the connectors and the micro-controller, thereby forming a hardware that may co-operate with a software which is made according to the interface standard, so that the host of the computer may correctly transmitting the commands and the data to the peripheral devices, thereby driving each of the peripheral devices to work.

[0005] The connecting interface connected to the peripheral device may be previously built in the main board (or the host) of the computer, such as the interfaces of PS/2, LPT, RS-232, IrDA, IDE, USB or the like. For example, the connecting interface of USB (universal serial bus) includes two specifications, that is, an old edition of USB 1.1 whose maximum transmitting rate is 12 Mb/s, and a new edition of USB 2.0 whose maximum transmitting rate is 480 Mb/s.

[0006] Recently, the host of the computer may support the new edition of USB 2.0, but most of the peripheral devices only support the old edition of USB 1.1. Thus, if the host of the computer may support the new edition of USB 2.0 and the peripheral device may only support the old edition of USB 1.1, the peripheral device may only perform the transmitting work at the speed regulated by the old edition of USB 1.1. That is, the maximum transmitting rate between the host of the computer and the peripheral device is 12 Mb/s only.

[0007] Accordingly, the peripheral device may perform the transmitting work at the speed regulated by the connecting interface of the new 2.0 edition only under the condition that both of the host of the computer and the peripheral device may support the connecting interface of the new edition simultaneously. If the peripheral device only supports the connecting interface of the old edition, the peripheral device may only perform the transmitting work at the speed regulated by the connecting interface of the old edition.

[0008] However, the consumer cannot previously or easily know if the peripheral device supports the connecting interface of the new edition, thereby greatly causing disturbance and inconvenience to the consumer when purchasing the computer.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0009] The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate the above-mentioned problem.

[0010] The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a connector that may indicate the edition of a connecting interface of a computer, wherein the connector includes a judging means and an indicator, so that the user may know the transmitting state between the computer and the peripheral device easily.

[0011] The difference between the old edition and the new edition of the connecting interface is in the transmitting velocity. The judging means of the connector of the present invention may judge the transmitting velocity between the computer and the peripheral device, and the indicator may have a mating indication according to different transmitting velocities, so that the user may directly identify if the peripheral device may support the standard of the new edition of the connecting interface according to the indication state of the indicator.

[0012] In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a connector that may indicator an edition of a connecting interface of a computer, comprising:

[0013] a host controller; and

[0014] at least one indicator electrically connected to the host controller.

[0015] The host controller includes a judgement device that may judge a transmitting velocity between the host of the computer and the peripheral device. Thus, the indicator may be adapted to indicate the edition of the connecting interface according to the transmitting velocity between the host of the computer and the peripheral device.

[0016] Further benefits and advantages of the present invention will become apparent after a careful reading of the detailed description with appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017]FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a connector that may indicator the edition of a connecting interface of a computer in accordance with the present invention; and

[0018]FIG. 2 is a flow chart of a judging means of the connector that may indicator the edition of a connecting interface of a computer in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0019] Referring to the drawings and initially to FIG. 1, a connector 1 that may indicator the edition of a connecting interface, such as a USB connecting interface, of a computer in accordance with the present invention comprises a USB host controller 11, and at least one indicator 12, such as an LED, LCD or the like, electrically connected to the USB host controller 11.

[0020] The USB host controller 11 is a micro-controller that may be operated under the standard regulated by the connecting interface of the new edition, such as USB 2.0.

[0021] Preferably, the connector 10 includes a first USB connector 14 mounted in the host 20 and connected to the USB host controller 11, a first indicator 12 mounted on the first USB connector 14, and electrically connected to the USB host controller 11, a second USB connector 14A mounted in the host 20 and connected to the USB host controller 11, and a second indicator 12A mounted on the second USB connector 14A, and electrically connected to the USB host controller 11.

[0022] The peripheral device 21 includes at least one USB device. Preferably, the peripheral device 21 includes a first USB device 30, such as a keyboard, and a second USB device 30A, such as a mouse. The first USB device 30 is provided with a first transceiver 31 connected to the first USB connector 14, and the second USB device 30A is provided with a second transceiver 31A connected to the second USB connector 14A.

[0023] The USB host controller 11 includes a judging means 13 that may judge the transmitting velocity between the host 20 of the computer and the peripheral device 21.

[0024] Preferably, the judging means 13 is embodied in a kernel manner. In practice, the first USB device 30 may be taken as an example for performing the steps of the judging means 13.

[0025] Referring to FIG. 2 with reference to FIG. 1, the judging means 13 includes the following steps:

[0026] (a) Sending a device requirement signal to the first USB device 30;

[0027] (b) Judging a response signal from the first transceiver 31 of the first USB device 30;

[0028] (c) Determining the transmitting velocity of the first USB device 30; and

[0029] (d) Determining if the transmitting velocity of the first USB device 30 reaches the velocity regulated by the standard of USB 2.0 (the connecting interface of the new edition).

[0030] In the steps (b) and (c), after the first transceiver 31 of the first USB device 30 sends a response signal through the first USB connector 14 to the USB host controller 11, the judging means 13 of the USB host controller 11 may detect the transmitting velocity of the first USB device 30. The USB host controller 11 has to mate with the transmitting velocity of the first USB device 30 to transmitting the data and commands. When the first USB device 30 only supports the velocity regulated by the standard of USB 1.1 (the connecting interface of the old edition), the maximum transmitting velocity between the host 20 of the computer and the peripheral device 21 is 12 Mb/s only. When the first USB device 30 may support the velocity regulated by the standard of USB 2.0 (the connecting interface of the new edition), the maximum transmitting rate between the host 20 of the computer and the peripheral device 21 may reach 480 Mb/s. Thus, the judging means 13 of the USB host controller 11 may determine the maximum transmitting velocity between the host 20 of the computer and the peripheral device 21, so as to detect the edition that the first USB device 30 may support.

[0031] In the step (d), if the judging means 13 of the USB host controller 11 detects that the transmitting velocity of the first USB device 30 reaches the velocity regulated by the standard of USB 2.0, that is, the maximum transmitting rate, between the host 20 of the computer and the peripheral device 21, at least exceeds the maximum velocity of USB 1.1 edition, 12 Mb/s, and may reach 480 Mb/s, the judging means 13 of the USB host controller 11 may output a control signal to the indicator 12 so that the indicator 12 may light (turn on). Alternatively, if the judging means 13 of the USB host controller 11 detects that the transmitting velocity of the first USB device 30 does not reach the velocity regulated by the standard of USB 2.0, that is, the maximum transmitting rate between the host 20 of the computer and the peripheral device 21 is 12 Mb/s or less than 480 Mb/s, the judging means 13 of the USB host controller 11 output a control signal to the indicator 12 so that the indicator 12 turns off. Thus, the user may detect the maximum transmitting velocity between the host 20 of the computer and the peripheral device 21, and may detect the edition (USB1.1 or USB2.0) that the first USB device 30 may support by indication of the indicator 12.

[0032] The indicator 12 may be mounted on the USB connector 14, and may also be mounted on the face plate or back plate of the main board of the computer. The indicator 12 is preferably mounted on the USB connector 14. The USB connector 14 may be mounted on the main board of the computer, and may also be mounted on a USB hub. Preferably, the USB connector 14 is mounted on the main board of the computer.

[0033] Accordingly, in accordance with the connector 1 of the present invention, the judging means 13 of the USB host controller 11 may detect the edition (USB1.1 or USB2.0) of the connecting interface supported by the USB device 30 of the peripheral device 21, and may detect the maximum transmitting velocity between the host 20 of the computer and the peripheral device 21. In addition, the indicator 12 may indicator the edition (USB1.1 or USB2.0) of the connecting interface supported by the USB device 30 of the peripheral device 21

[0034] Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment as mentioned above, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. It is, therefore, contemplated that the appended claim or claims will cover such modifications and variations that fall within the true scope of the invention. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A connector that may indicate an edition of a connecting interface of a computer, comprising: a host controller including a judging means for judging a transmitting state or a transmitting velocity between a host of a computer and a peripheral device; and at least one indicator electrically connected to the host controller.
 2. The connector that may indicate the edition of a connecting interface of a computer in accordance with claim 1, wherein the host controller is a USB host controller.
 3. The connector that may indicate the edition of a connecting interface of a computer in accordance with claim 2, wherein the USB host controller is a micro-controller that is operated under a standard regulated by the connecting interface of a new edition.
 4. The connector that may indicate the edition of a connecting interface of a computer in accordance with claim 1, wherein the at least one indicator is an LED electrically connected to the host controller.
 5. The connector that may indicate the edition of a connecting interface of a computer in accordance with claim 1, wherein the at least one indicator is an LCD electrically connected to the host controller.
 6. The connector that may indicate the edition of a connecting interface of a computer in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a connector connected to the host controller, wherein the at least one indicator is mounted on the connector.
 7. The connector that may indicate the edition of a connecting interface of a computer in accordance with claim 6, wherein the connector is a USB connector mounted in a host of a computer.
 8. The connector that may indicate the edition of a connecting interface of a computer in accordance with claim 7, further comprising a peripheral device including at least one USB device connected to the USB connector.
 9. The connector that may indicate the edition of a connecting interface of a computer in accordance with claim 8, where the at least one USB device is provided with a transceiver connected to the USB connector.
 10. The connector that may indicate the edition of a connecting interface of a computer in accordance with claim 8, wherein the host controller includes a judging means that may judge a transmitting velocity between the host of the computer and the peripheral device.
 11. The connector that may indicate the edition of a connecting interface of a computer in accordance with claim 10, wherein the judging means includes the steps of: (a) sending a device requirement signal to the USB device; (b) judging a response signal from the transceiver of the USB device; (c) determining a transmitting velocity of the USB device; and (d) determining if the transmitting velocity of the USB device reaches a velocity regulated by a standard of a USB of a new edition.
 12. The connector that may indicate the edition of a connecting interface of a computer in accordance with claim 11, wherein in the step (d), if the judging means of the host controller detects that the transmitting velocity of the USB device reaches the velocity regulated by the standard of USB of a new edition, the judging means of the host controller may output a control signal to the indicator so that the indicator may light to indicate the new edition of the USB.
 13. The connector that may indicate the edition of a connecting interface of a computer in accordance with claim 11, wherein in the step (d), if the judging means of the host controller detects that the transmitting velocity of the USB device does not reach the velocity regulated by the standard of USB of a new edition, the judging means of the host controller may output a control signal to the indicator so that the indicator turns off.
 14. The connector that may indicate the edition of a connecting interface of a computer in accordance with claim 7, wherein the indicator is mounted on the USB connector.
 15. A connector connected between a computer and at least one peripheral device, comprising: a host controller, supporting a first edition and a section edition of said connector, said host controller further judging the transmitting velocity between said computer and said peripheral device; at least one indicator electrically coupled to the host controller and responsive to said transmitting velocity, thereby indicating said first or second edition.
 16. The connector in accordance with claim 15, wherein said host controller further comprises a judging means for judging said transmitting velocity between said computer and said peripheral device.
 17. The connector in accordance with claim 15, wherein said indicator comprises a LED.
 18. The connector in accordance with claim 15, wherein said indicator comprises a LCD.
 19. The connector in accordance with claim 17, wherein said LED is turn on when said transmitting velocity comply with said second edition.
 20. The connector in accordance with claim 15, wherein said first edition is USB 1.1 edition and said second edition is USB 2.0 edition. 